Battery to fit my 71?

After discovering major acid damage from a previous owners battery leaking, I went with the Optima also. I have had it for a number of years. I have a cutoff on the positive post so when I park the car I can disconnect the battery from the system. Don't like power going through the system with the ignition off.
I also have a Harbor Freight cheap trickel charger I always attach and have had no problems with it keeping a charge.

Thanks for the replies. I'll check them out.
Mike

In preparation for the trip to the Challenge Championship last month I decided to change the battery, not because it was giving me any trouble but because I couldn't remember when I had bought it. However, I had put the receipt from Wal-Mart in a zipper bag on the side of the battery and it showed that I had purchased it in February of 2000. How time flies!

The Optima is good for engines that are driven rarely and are parked for long periods of time, As they have a small discharge rate they can last longer than some regular batteries. But, they also need very low recharging, such as from a trickle charger, they do not like the charge rate from a generator/alternator and in fact can not be fully charged that way. Most modern batteries are more flexible and have good warranties, and if you drive the car at least bi- monthly they will give you long service, They are also less expensive!

I have been using the Optima 75/35 Red top in my E the last 10 years+. They cost more than lead/acid batteries but to me is worth the extra $$ to get the acid battery out of the car. It fits in the plastic tray. One of the other guys in Houston told me the story of his E-type voltage going haywire overcharging the battery and venting acid and doing paint damage. This story reinforced my decision to stay with the Optima type battery. My 2 cents

David Barnes
68 E-type FHC

i USE AN MT47 FROM INTERSTATE ETC,